Atlanta, GA – 

Young Thug is facing eight charges in the sprawling RICO case against his Young Slime Life (YSL) collective.

The chares against the Atlanta rapper (real name Jeffery Williams) were confirmed in court documents on Wednesday (January 4) as day one of jury selection in the trial began in Fulton County, Georgia.

The RICO indictment contains a total of 65 counts levied against Thug and other members of YSL, who prosecutors allege is a “criminal street gang” affiliated with the Bloods that is behind a series of violent crimes in the Atlanta area, including murder and armed robbery.

Thugger’s eight counts include conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act and two counts of participation in criminal street gang activity, which were filed when the rapper was originally indicted in May 2022.

He has also been charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of codeine with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine, possession of a firearm and possession of a machine gun.

The drug and gun charges were filed in August and stem from items seized during a police search of Thug’s home in Buckhead, Atlanta during his May arrest.

CT 58: Possesion of Marijuana w/intent to distribute
Ct. 59: Poss of Codeine w/intent to distribute
Ct. 60: Poss of Cocaine
Ct. 61: Poss of Firearm
Ct. 62: Poss of Machine Gun pic.twitter.com/vtqZ3mCNLD

— Cathy Russon (@cathyrusson) January 4, 2023

Young Thug was one of 28 YSL members arrested in the RICO case, but that number has since been whittled down to 14. Several defendants have taken plea deals in recent weeks, including Gunna, who was released from jail last month after pleading guilty to a single racketeering charge.

While Young Thug has maintained his innocence, the plea deals are expected make his fight for freedom an even bigger uphill battle.

While accepting his negotiated plea in December, Antonio “Mounk Tounk” Sledge admitted in court that one or more YSL members were behind the 2015 murder of Donovan Thomas, and he and other YSL associates were paid by Young Thug to “lay low” after the killing.

Sledge, who was sentenced to 15 years probation after pleading guilty to conspiracy to violate the RICO Act and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, also agreed to testify at trial if necessary.

Also on the state’s witness list are a slew of high-profile Hip Hop figures including Lil Wayne, Birdman and YFN Lucci. Birdman was implicated along with Young Thug in the 2015 shooting of Wayne’s tour bus, while Thugger allegedly ordered the jail stabbing of Lucci last March.

The defense’s witness list, meanwhile, includes fellow Atlanta rapper Killer Mike and veteran Hip Hop executives Lyor Cohen and Kevin Liles — who helped steer Thug to stardom — as well as a number of Hip Hop experts and authors.

The high-profile trial is expected to last for at least nine months, with the media pool schedule running through September 23, according to Law Crime reporter Cathy Russon.

Article source: https://hiphopdx.com/news/young-thug-eight-charges-rico-trial-ysl

Theophilus London has been found after his family filed a missing persons report last week.

The rapper/designer’s cousin, Mikhail Noel, announced in an Instagram post on Wednesday (January 4) that London has been located and is “safe and well.”

“We have found Theo,” read his post, which featured a photo of the 35-year-old artist. “He is safe and well, at this time the family would love prayers and privacy. Thank you all!!!”

In his caption, Noel added: “Truly appreciate everyone’s support in finding my cousin. It’s refreshing and rewarding to have such a strong support system of family and friends!!! God bless each and everyone of you all.”

London’s frequent collaborator, producer Machine Drum, also shared the news on Twitter, writing: “He’s been found and is safe with family.”

A post shared by Mikhail DjKellz Noel (@iamdjkellz)

Theophilus London was reported missing shortly after Christmas. Some of his relatives traveled to Los Angeles and filed a missing persons report with the LAPD on December 27, before issuing a press release asking for help locating his whereabouts the following day.

In the release, they noted that the last time someone had heard from him was nearly six months ago in July 2022. The LAPD added in a statement that he was “last seen in the ‘Skid Row’ area of Los Angeles.”

“Over the last few weeks, friends and family of Theophilus London have been working together to piece together his whereabouts,” the press release read. “The last time someone spoke with him reportedly stretches back to July 2022 in Los Angeles.

“On December 27th, family members of Theophilus London traveled to Los Angeles to file a missing persons report with the LAPD. They are now seeking the public’s help with any information as to London’s whereabouts.”

It also contained a message from London’s father, Lary Moses London, that read: “Theo, your Dad loves you, son. We miss you. And all your friends and relatives are searching for you. Wherever you are send us some signal. No matter what we will come get you son.”

Born in Trinidad Tobago before relocating to New York City, Theophilus London is best known for his musical and fashion collaborations with Kanye West, A$AP Rocky and the late Virgil Abloh.

He has released three albums — Timez Are Weird These Days, Vibes and Bebey — and was nominated for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song at the 2016 Grammy Awards for his appearance on Kanye’s “All Day.”

Theo has also worked with the likes of Travis Scott, Big Boi, Solange, Azealia Banks and Tame Impala.

Article source: https://hiphopdx.com/news/theophilus-london-found-safe-after-missing-person-report

Houston, TX – 

TakeOff’s alleged killer has been released from jail after posting a $1 million bond.

According to ABC13, Patrick Clark — the man accused of murdering the Migos rapper in Houston, Texas in November 2022 — made his bond on Wednesday (January 4).

As part of his bond agreement, Clark will have to comply with GPS monitoring by wearing an ankle monitor. He is due back in court in March.

Clark’s bond was originally set at $2 million before his legal team successfully negotiated to reduce it by half last month, claiming the figure was unconstitutional because he was unable to afford it.

His attorneys requested a further reduction to $300,000, but their motion was denied. Judge Josh Hill ruled that previous statements made by Clark in a jail phone call indicated he could pay a $1 million bail.

Clark’s attorney previously said the suspect’s family were willing to put up their Houston-area home as collateral to bond him out of jail.

TakeOff (real name Kirshnik Khari Ball) was shot and killed outside a bowling alley in Houston on November 1, just weeks after the release of his and Quavo’s joint album Only Built For Infinity Links.

According to police, the 28-year-old rapper was an innocent bystander to a “lucrative” dice game involving Quavo and other men. An altercation broke out during the game, leading to multiple shots being fired.

TakeOff was pronounced dead at the scene, with an autopsy report from the Harris County Medical Examiner’s office later revealing he was killed by “penetrating gunshot wounds of head and torso into arm.”

Patrick Clark, known locally in Houston as DJ Pat, was arrested and charged with the Migos hitmaker’s murder on December 2. Authorities linked him to the crime by surveillance footage showing him firing a gun and a wine bottle left at the scene containing his fingerprints.

Police also had to recreate the crime scene to confirm any ballistic evidence. “Through that we were able to deduce that Patrick Clark is the lethal shooter in the case, that’s why he’s charged with murder,” Homicide Division Sgt. Michael Burrow said.

Despite maintaining his innocence, Clark reportedly planned to flee the country after the shooting. It was revealed during a court hearing last month that the 33-year-old had applied for an expedited passport and bought plane tickets to Mexico just two days before his arrest.

Article source: https://hiphopdx.com/news/takeoff-murder-suspect-released-1-million-bond

Tony Yayo has offered some words regarding Tory Lanez and the whole idea of him having a “little man complex,” otherwise known as a Napoleon complex.

In the latest segment of his interview with VladTV, which aired on Tuesday (January 3), the former G-Unit soldier spoke on the level of disrespect someone would take before resorting to extreme measures like using a gun.

Vlad explained that he doesn’t think Tory Lanez is a street guy, so for him to have shot Megan Thee Stallion in her feet in 2020, a lot of people were caught by surprise. However, Yayo said with the success Tory has seen in his career, it’s easy for anyone to start acting “tough.”

“When you have money and power I mean it could turn you semi tough I’m not saying he’s not tough because I don’t know him,” Yayo said. “I know n-ggas thats 5 foot 2 that got the little man complex and will cut your face, you know what I’m saying.”

He added: “When people like you say that might make him mad to go out and do some dumb shit. Sometimes the things people say affect people so I don’t know. I know short dudes that are even more crazy because they short so they felt like they always got something to prove.”

A Napoleon complex is a psychological term to describe the domineering or aggressive attitude perceived from someone that’s physically small. They assert themselves in a way to overcompensate for their size.

Many have diagnosed Tory Lanez with the complex after people believed he shot Megan Thee Stallion in response to her teasing him about their respective careers and how much more she has than him the night of the incident.

Following eight days of trial, nearly two days of closing arguments and a day of deliberations, a grand jury found Tory guilty of all three charges levied against him last month.

The three counts were felony assault with a semiautomatic firearm, possession of a concealed, unregistered firearm and discharging a firearm with gross negligence.

Lanez pleaded not guilty to all three counts and during the trial opted not to testify. He has a sentence hearing set for January 27 and faces up to 22 years in prison and deportation to his native Canada.

Article source: https://hiphopdx.com/news/tony-yayo-little-man-complex-tory-lanez-street-credibility

Logic has decided to scrap a finished album that featured him rapping solely over unreleased J Dilla production.

During a recent YouTube livestream that circulated on Tuesday (January 3), Logic explained that his decision was merely personal and had nothing to do with clearance issues.

“I did a whole J Dilla album but that’s another story for another time,” Logic said. “And it wasn’t nothing with the estate… everything was fine, It’s just… I was like, ‘I’m straight.’ Like, I recorded this whole J Dilla album with all unreleased beats and shit and I was like, ‘I’m okay.’”

Instead, the Maryland native would rather see the production fall into the hands of Boldy James, who last year announced his own project over the late producer’s unreleased beats. “I’d rather see Boldy do it. He’s gonna fuckin’ kill it,” Logic added. “The fact that I could even rap on it was really good. And who knows, maybe it’ll see the light of day one time. But, we’ll see.”

Logic has an entire album over unreleased J Dilla beats but decided not to release it

“I’d rather see Boldy do it” pic.twitter.com/2DKeL72Nls

— Bryce (@FittsBryce) January 4, 2023

Boldy James first announced his Dilla project in a 2020 interview with HipHopDX, then elaborated further during an interview with Phoenix’s Trill store in June.

“I’ve actually got an announcement to make,” he said. “You talking about they don’t even know what’s about to happen, you don’t even know what’s about to happen. I got a whole entirely produced J Dilla project that I’m about to drop. I would tell you the name of it, but I had to tell you that. I got the last of the Dilla stash.

“A lot of people owe their success, you know, not owe their success, but he alley-ooped a lot of people’s success,” Boldy continued. The list goes on, I’m not about to start name-dropping, but if you don’t know who this guy is, you need to do your history. J Dilla, Detroit, stand up.”

The Detroit-based rapper was previously featured on J Dilla’s posthumous album Rebirth of Detroit in 2012, appearing on “Detroit Game” alongside The Cool Kids’ Chuck Inglish.

Meanwhile, Logic is busy with other collaborations – which potentially includes actor Rainn Wilson, who’s best known for playing Dwight Schrute on The Office.

“My man is making beats right now, and he’s really snapping,” Logic said in a video on New Year’s Day showing Wilson tapping away on an MPC in the rapper’s home studio.

Though it’s unclear if anything will come out of their session, Logic did recently confirm a collaborative project with producer Madlib.

Article source: https://hiphopdx.com/news/logic-scraps-unreleased-j-dilla-beats-album-boldy-james